Trump has said any shutdown ‘is a Biden problem to solve’

President-elect Donald Trump on Friday morning shifted the blame for a potential government shutdown onto the current White House, asserting that resolving the funding impasse is “a Biden problem to solve.”

AD_SHOULD_BE_HERE

Earlier in the week, lawmakers seemed poised to avoid a shutdown with a bipartisan stopgap spending bill, known as a continuing resolution (CR), to extend government funding into March. The package included add-ons to secure Democratic support. However, the bill faced swift opposition from Trump ally Elon Musk, followed by Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance, ultimately derailing it. With government funding set to expire at midnight Friday, Trump maintained that any shutdown would fall on President Joe Biden’s shoulders.

“If there is going to be a shutdown of government, let it begin now, under the Biden Administration, not after January 20th, under ‘TRUMP,’” Trump posted on Truth Social. “This is a Biden problem to solve, but if Republicans can help solve it, they will!”

A key sticking point for Trump in the negotiations is the government’s debt ceiling. The president-elect has demanded that any funding package address this issue by either significantly raising or eliminating the debt limit altogether—a move that many conservatives oppose after years of insisting on debt ceiling fights.

AD_SHOULD_BE_HERE

“Congress must get rid of, or extend out to, perhaps, 2029, the ridiculous Debt Ceiling,” Trump wrote on Truth Social early Friday morning. “Without this, we should never make a deal. Remember, the pressure is on whoever is President.”

Attempts to craft legislation aligning with Trump’s demands have so far failed. A deal to fund the government and extend the debt limit collapsed on the House floor Thursday night after 38 Republican lawmakers defected. Speaker Mike Johnson worked through the night to develop a “Plan C” after abandoning the bipartisan agreement and failing to pass an alternative. Both Johnson and Trump are weighing the potential political costs of a government shutdown.

“We’re expecting votes this morning. So y’all stay tuned. We’ve got a plan,” Johnson told reporters early Friday. When asked if a new agreement had been reached, he added, “We’ll see.”

AD_SHOULD_BE_HERE

Johnson faces the challenge of balancing Trump’s demands with the need for Democratic support in both the House and the Democratic-controlled Senate. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has called for returning to the original bipartisan deal that Trump and Musk opposed.

“It’s a good thing the bill failed in the House, and now it’s time to go back to the bipartisan agreement we came to,” Schumer said Thursday.

Meanwhile, Vance echoed Trump’s stance, blaming Democrats for the impasse. “They’ve asked for a shutdown and I think that’s exactly what they’re going to get,” Vance told reporters Thursday.

AD_SHOULD_BE_HERE

Unusual Whales does not confirm the information's truthfulness or accuracy of the associated references, data, and cannot verify any of the information. Any content on this site or related pages are not intended to provide legal, tax, investment or insurance advice. Unusual Whales Inc. is not registered as a securities broker-dealer or an investment adviser with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) or any state securities regulatory authority. Nothing on Unusual Whales should be construed as an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation for any security by Unusual Whales or any third party. Options, investing, trading is risky, and losses are more expected than profits. Please do own research before investing. Please only subscribe after reading our full terms and understanding options and the market, and the inherent risks of trading. It is highly recommended not to trade on this, or any, information from Unusual Whales. Markets are risky, and you will likely lose some or all of your capital. Please check our terms for full details.
Any content on this site or related pages are not intended to provide legal, tax, investment or insurance advice. Unusual Whales Inc. is not registered as a securities broker-dealer or an investment adviser with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) or any state securities regulatory authority. Nothing on Unusual Whales should be construed as an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation for any security by Unusual Whales or any third party. Certain investment planning tools available on Unusual Whales may provide general investment education based on your input. You are solely responsible for determining whether any investment, investment strategy, security or related transaction is appropriate for you based on your personal investment objectives, financial circumstances and risk tolerance. You should consult your legal or tax professional regarding your specific situation. See terms for more information.